Everyday Celebrations: tutorials

So here is the promised tutorial, two days late, but here it is. Before we moved, I was searching Micheal’s for some finishing touches on a project for work. On my way out…I spied these…and the ideas started to flow of what I could use them for.

(Excuse the tattered packing…I got a little excited…not really.) These are Alphabet Cards made by K&Company from the line Actopus to Zelephant. (I thought that was clever.) The set contains 26 alphabet animal cards with fun animal factoids on the back.

I immediately knew what I was going to use these for! A little animal ABC Quiet Book. Added bonus, this little set was on sale for $5.25. I was sold. (I was going to come back with a 40% off coupon and save even more…but they were already on sale.) Now the factoids are a little much for a baby or toddler, but I figured heck…your grade schooler may even enjoy reading this! So I just thought they were an added bonus. When I got home I opened them up and discovered the cuteness of the cards.

The pictures are adorable and definitely have a vintage look to them.

So with out further adieu…here is how I made it into a book. (It’s super simple, you could figure it out with out the tutorial.)

Materials:

one package K&Company Alphabet Cards

*Note on cards: I found mine at a Micheal’s in Michigan about a month ago. I cannot find them online, but here is a link to the designer’s site. The entire line is very cute.

3 hole punch
small hand-held hold punch
two 1” loose leaf binder rings
access to a laminator
5” cuts of various ribbons
method to seal ends of ribbons

1. Begin punching holes on the left hand side of the cards. I used the bottom two holes of my 3-hole punch. I lined up the bottom of my card with the guard at the BOTTOM of my punch. Go to town. (If you do it this way the holes will all be in the same position when you are done.)

2. *Optional Step – I created a cover in Photoshop using two digital packs from Summer Driggs. (I love her packs.) I did not print them out because I want to add a name at a later date. Print it out at home or run off as a photo at Costco. Then punch holes and laminate too.

3. Get the cards laminated and cut. I taught for 5 years and learned a few things about laminating. When you cut, leave at least 1/8” – ¼” of laminate around the entire card or your seal will break. Also, if you punch your holes after you laminate your cards, you will break the seal on the actual card. After I cut out my cards, I just used a smaller hole punch and punched just inside the laminate. (Or if you don’t have a smaller one, just prick the laminate with the tip of one of your binder rings.)

Don’t know where to get your cards laminated? Kinkos and such places are typically $$$. I went to a local teaching supply store, where they charge .89 a foot, which is pretty good. The total length of all the cards when I got mine laminated was 5 feet. That should give you a ballpark of the total cost. Also if you live close to a Lakeshore Learning store they have a self-service laminator and it costs .39 a foot. (Last time I was there.) Call to double check before you head out.

4. Place on rings. At this stage I determined the book definitely needed something.

5. That something was ribbon.

6. Cut a bunch of pieces in about 5” lengths. (I picked 5 different kinds of ribbon and did 2 of each.) Tie on rings. Clip to desired lengths and seal the ends.

7. You are done! Quick, easy, and super cute! Total cost for me was less than 10 bucks. (I had the binder rings and ribbon on hand.)

Let me know if you made one and where you found your cards!

Tutorial: Lined Christmas Stocking

All the pictured stockings were made using the following method.

Well here it is! The promised tutorial. (I hope to get both a banner and ornament one done too...) This seriously is the easiest lined stocking EVER. I can't remember where I learned how to do it, but it is so snappy and fun and I promise you will be astonished. The finished look is so crisp and clean that it will knock your socks of because of how easy it was. (no pun intended)
So get your materials, turn on some Christmas music and get ready to have a beautiful stocking in less than an hour. Truly! (This stocking will be listed in my shop too...just in case you were wondering. :0) )

For One Stocking You Will Need:

If you are making more than one stocking, you will end up using a little less than 1/3 of a yard for each one. This is because you can place your pattern to maximize the fabric. The same goes for the cuff fabric.

1/3 yard for lining fabric
1/3 yard for outer fabric
1/4 yard for cuffs, I used chenille
embellishments - coordinating fabric, buttons, whatever you want
coordinating or contrasting thread
iron
pinking shears
fabric scissors
pins
tracing paper or parchment paper for pattern

Pattern:

I made my own pattern, but I am not clever enough to put it in this tutorial for you. You can draw your own stocking pattern or if you have a stocking already, you can trace around it. Just remember to add 1/4" seam allowance or your stocking will be skinner than the one you traced.

Dimensions:
The yardage I listed above is based off of these dimensions.

width at the top of the stocking: 7.5"
shortest length, from top of stocking to heel: 18"
longest length, from top of stocking to toe: 20.5"
width of toe: 6"

Cutting The Fabrics:

Place fabrics in the following order:

1. Fold your lining fabric in half, right sides together, selvage to selvage. Place on cutting mat.

2. Fold your outer fabric in half, right sides together, selvage to selvage. Place on TOP of of your lining fabric and line up the folds the best you can.

I didn't use 1/3 yard cuts, I used some pieces left over from other projects, so my fabric layout looks a little different.

3. Place the top of your pattern just below the folds. (You will be cutting the folds open/off.) The toe should be down towards the selvages. Pin in place.

4. Cut through all four layers of fabrics. I use a rotary cutter and acrylic ruler on the straight parts, then hand cut with sharp fabric scissors the rest. Remember to cut off your folds at the top so you can reach inside!

Adding Embellishments:

1. Remove the pattern, being careful not to totally separate all the layers of fabric. If you are not adding embellishments, pin the pieces together and go to the next section. If you are going to add embellishments, keep on reading...

2. Remove the top piece of fabric. This should be a piece of your OUTER fabric. Place it beside the other pieces so you see the right sides of both pieces of your outer fabric.

3. Decide which way you want your toe to face when it is completed. I like my toe pointing to the right, but it doesn't matter. What matters is that you put your front design on the piece of fabric!!!

4. I like my toe pointing to the right. So, I add the embellishments to the piece that has the toe pointing to the right. Easy to remember right? Just put the embellishments on the piece that has the toe facing the direction you want it to. An important thing to consider is also your cuff. My cuffs are about 4" long finished. So I placed my embellishment about 4.5" from the top of my stocking. This way my cute embellishments will not be covered by the cuff at the end. All I did for my embellishments was add a strip of coordinating fabric. I sewed it in place using a zig zag stitch.

Sorry I made this stocking at 11:30 @ night and forgot to take a full length picture of this step.

5. Now place your pieces back together, trying to line up all four layers the best you can.
The layers should be:

two lining pieces, right sides together
then two outer pieces on top with their right sides together

You should see the wrong side of your outer fabric on top. Pin all layers together, use the cutting marks to help you line up all the pieces. This is why I had you cut out all four layers together. It makes it easier to line up and sew together because the pieces have all the same cut marks.

Sewing Together:

1. This is going to sound crazy but sew all four layers together, using 1/4" seam allowance. That is right, sew through all FOUR layers. Remember to leave the top open! :) Reach inside and feel around to insure you caught all four layers.

2. After sewing, iron the stocking well, especially the seams.

3. Pink the edges around the toe and heel, or snip with sharp scissors. (Be careful not to cut through your stitching!

Turning...this is where it gets cool :)

1. Reach between the LINING layers, and you should see the RIGHT sides of the LINING fabric.

2. Grab the toe of the stocking from the inside and turn it so the right side of the lining now shows.

3. When you look inside you should see the RIGHT sides of your OUTER fabric.

4. Do the same thing again. Reach inside grab the toe and your OUTER fabric will now show!

5. Now press your stocking and reach inside and poke around with your fingers or a wooden spoon to get the seams to lay appropriately.

Isn't that cool?!?

Hanging Loop

1. I've used ribbon and fabric for my loops. For this one I made one from fabric.

2. Cut out a 6.5" x 3" rectangle from the fabric of your choice. (I used my outer fabric.)

3. Using an iron, fold it in half and press.

4. Open it and fold each side in towards the middle and press.

5. Fold in half again using the middle fold as a guide and press.

6. Sew up the open side using 1/8" seam allowance. Fold in half and press.

Cuff:

1. I made my cuff 15.25" x 4.75". Essentially, double the original width of the stocking, 7.5" in my case, and add about 1/8" so the cuff doesn't look 'tapered'.

2. Fold the cuff in half so the short edges match. Sew using 1/4" seam allowance. On one of the long edges, fold under 1/2" of the raw edge to the back. Sew in place using 1/4" seam allowance.

3. If you want to embroider a name you can do that now. You also can embroider a name when you are all done. It is just a bit more cumbersome. Remember, you will loose 1/4" from off the top edge when you sew it to the stocking.

Sewing The Cuff and Loop:

1. Take your loop and place it so that the loop is in the inside of the stocking. The raw edges will be coming our of the top of the stocking. Pin. Leave a bit of the edges hanging over the edge of the stocking. This way you can be sure to catch it when you sew. I placed my loop in the top left hand corner just beside the side seam. (This is for a stocking with the toe to the RIGHT. You would want to put the loop in the RIGHT hand corner if you have a toe facing LEFT.)

3. Turn the cuff right side out. Place the cuff INSIDE the stocking with the right side facing the lining. Line up the seam of the cuff with the side seam of the stocking. (I lined mine up on the same side as my hanging loop.)

4. Pin the cuff in place, lining up the raw edges of the cuff with the raw edges of the stocking. (You will have to pull/stretch the fabrics a bit to get them to line up.) This is because the cuff is slightly larger than the opening of the stocking. This is on purpose so the stocking cuff doesn't appear 'tappered'.

5. Sew in place using 1/4" seam allowance. I usually back stitch a couple of times when I go across the hanging loop. Cut off the hanging loop raw edges that are sticking out. Pink edges to prevent fraying from raw edges, or if you have one serge the edges.

6. Turn cuff so that the right side is now facing. You can play around with the cuff till you have the right amount showing. If you want to keep the cuff in better place, you can top stitch across the top of the stocking.

Tada!!!!

A truly BEAUTIFUL stocking that is, may I add, fully LINED!!!! Truly such a fun trick and makes this project EASY PEASY. Now you can proudly display your stockings and people will marvel and say, they are LINED and how did you do that?

After the turning steps, I am almost positive you went back and turned it wrong sides out and repeated it just because it was so cool! Or at least I did. :0)

Happy Thanksgiving to everyone this week! I will be enjoying a blogging break after today for Thanksgiving. Then next week is the last week before my first ever craft show....wish me luck!!!! So if you don't hear from me...that is why. :)

Be safe and take time to remember all the amazing blessings we all have.